Resource Directory /

Education Resources

  • Special Education Assessment Tip Sheet and Resource List

    Family members and early care and education providers are adults who notice when the children in their care may have disabilities or developmental delays and would benefit from special education services.

    The Illinois Early Learning Project’s Special Education Assessment tip sheet series is a helpful tool for learning more about the steps in that process. The IEL also provides an Assessment for Special Education resource list.

  • Special Education Helpline

    Equip for Equality has a toll-free Special Education Helpline to help families get appropriate education services for their children. The Helpline can assist by providing:

    Someone to talk to about your questions and concerns
    Information sheets on frequently asked questions
    Sample letters and forms
    Referrals
    Other assistance as needed

    Contact the Helpline at 1-866-KIDS-046 (1-866-543-7046) or specialed@equipforequality.org.

  • STAR NET Region VI

    STAR NET Region VI is part of the Illinois STAR NET system and is supported through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education in cooperation with Southwest Cooperative. STAR NET provides training, consultation and resources to the early childhood community.

    The STAR NET system assists the State Board of Education in meeting local needs by providing services to professionals and parents of young children with special needs throughout Illinois.

    STAR NET Region VI serves South Cook, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, LaSalle, Will and  Grundy counties.

    STAR NET Region VI
    6020 W. 151st Street
    Oak Forest, Il  60452
    Phone:  (708) 342-5370
    Fax: (708) 687-2247
    email: starnet6vi@gmail.com

  • STARNET

    Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

  • STARNET Region II

    Illinois STARNET provides a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARNET supports family-centered, researched, and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

    STARNET
    2626 S. Clearbrook Dr.
    Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4626
    Phone 224-366-8579
    Fax 847-278-5434
    Email: starnet@cps.edu

  • SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education

    SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education provides free resources to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds learn about the dangers of drugs and how to help those who may be affected by substance use. Educational materials are available in English and Spanish and include engaging videos targeting kids, teens, parents, teachers, employers and more.

    SUPE offers up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on topics such as:

    • Edibles and vaping education and prevention for kids
    • Tips for talking to grandchildren about substance use
    • The link between bullying and substance use
    • Do’s and don’ts for teachers speaking to students about drugs

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.

  • Swann Center in Champaign

    Swann Special Care Center is a non-profit organization located in Champaign that offers residential and educational programs for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities.  Its programs serve residents from throughout Illinois and include residential nursing care, adult day training and an accredited year-round school. Swann Special Care Center also offers:

    Restorative and long-term habilitation
    Palliative and end-of-life care
    Evaluation on an individual and ongoing basis
    Physical, occupational and speech therapies

  • Take N.O.T.E. of Learning Differences

    Take N.O.T.E. is an initiative developed by Understood in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. It aims to help parents identify the signs of learning or thinking differences in their children.

  • TDI for Access Communication Access Scholarship Program

    TDI for Access’ annual Communication Access Scholarship Program recognizes graduating high school students who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and deafblind (DHH). The scholarship program is open to graduating DHH high school seniors anywhere in the United States who plan to attend post-secondary school at either a technical college or university.

    The scholarship recognizes students for their passion and capacity to lead and serve as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on accessible communication technologies. The application window is from March to May every year.